An impossible dream realised in the Vitality staging European football, and the Europa League is becoming an oasis for Bournemouth. No wins yet in the Premier League but in beating Sturm Graz to follow victory at Real Sociedad should ease the domestic pressures on Marco Rose. A pair of Brazilians secured club history on the gala night, Evanilson’s first-half header followed by Rayan’s close-range drive, a clincher arriving as the Austrian visitors had pushed hard for an equaliser. Álvaro Rodríguez’s injury-time penalty furthered the celebrations.
Flag day at the Vitality. Elvis Presley’s high baritone and Andy Williams’ tenor replacing the usual dance hits on the public address system marked a different type of occasion. Bournemouth have come a long way. “Minus 17 to European dreams” read a banner in the Steve Fletcher stand, marking the journey from the foot of the Football League to a model, continental club.
Rose’s initial team selection suggested Premier League as priority, though changes following a 5-1 defeat by Chelsea were understandable. Key players and valuable assets had their legs saved for Sunderland, a fixture where both clubs must ride out the unnatural rhythm of Thursday-Sunday.
Bournemouth’s new head coach has spoken of the chaos of English football, particularly midfield areas that resemble a rolling maul. Importing the philosophy that brought success in Germany and Austria, if not necessarily sustained, has hit a domestic roadblock. Losing Junior Kroupi so far this season, and now Alex Scott, are regrettable problems for a small squad.
Ben Gannon-Doak, a modern rarity as right-footed right winger, offered speed as Evanilson, usually target man, played a supporting role to Álvaro Rodríguez.
It was the captain, Adam Smith, overlapping outside Gannon-Doak who supplied the first big chance. Marcus Tavernier, cutting in from the left, shanked wide. Soon after, a Gannon-Doak cross from the byline saw Rodríguez misjudge its flight. The summer signing, raw at 22, found decent positions only for touch to betray him.
Bournemouth have not struggled for chance creation this season; execution is a different matter. Graz, fourth in this season’s Österreichische Bundesliga, hardly exuded ambition, their defensive trio often becoming a shell-like five. Within such squeezed spaces, following a corner, Bournemouth had the ball in the net, for what seemed an own-goal but had struck Bafode Diakité’s arm. Tavernier struck the outside of a post with a long-range shot, before Graz at last began to enjoy a bit more success. The away contingent began to celebrate a penalty, only for the official to penalise Belmin Beganovic for diving over Smith’s fair tackle.
It was Smith who supplied Evanilson’s goal, a flicked header full of neck muscle looping off the angle for the first European goal celebrated in Boscombe. Rose’s team had the goal their first half deserved. Beyond the break, the scoreline meant Graz had to be more ambitious.
Their fans would keep singing whatever the game state, that being the continental way, but there was definitely more to encourage them, with Simon Seidl’s shot whistling wide of Djordje Petrovic’s goal as a statement of intention.
Two of Bournemouth’s mainstays, Tavernier and Lewis Cook, tried to take the fight back to Graz when it seemed the first half had drained the energy banks. Gannon-Doak took down one raking ball with a lovely piece of skill only for his cross to be blocked. James Hill, one of those rested, replaced Smith just before Graz twice went very close. Jürgen Heil struck the post with his drive and then Jacob-Peter Hödl forced a remarkable reflex save from Petrovic on the rebound. The spectre of Premier League travails, where good play and good chances have not been converted, began to loom as Graz interchanges became crisper, more confident.
The 70th minute triple introduction of Rayan, Justin Kluivert and Ryan Christie was Rose’s successful attempt to both lock down midfield and increase his team’s attacking threat, even if Christie wafting a shooting chance over almost as soon as he arrived was yet more waste.
It was left to Rayan to complete the job with a goal to follow his strike at La Real. Daniil Khudyakov, Graz’s Russian goalkeeper, first flapped at a corner and then got only a weak hand to the Brazilian’s shot through the proverbial forest of legs. Bournemouth’s European homecoming had staged the victory the occasion demanded.
